Berlin government pledges €1 million to fund noise protection in clubs

Berlin’s city government has pledged €1 million to fund noise protection in clubs and venues.

According to national newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, the money will go towards things like soundproofing venues—including providing noise barriers for outdoor areas—and the windows of nearby residential properties. Though it’s not yet clear how the fund will be distributed, the decision was welcomed by Berlin’s Club Commission. “In a densely populated city, where residential development is close to music venues, investment must be made in noise protection to ensure coexistence,” said its spokesman Lutz Leichsenring.

The article goes on to mention that around ten Berlin venues currently have issues with their neighbours, including YAAM, KulturBrauerei and Jonny Knüppel. From 2011 through 2015, 170 clubs closed down in the capital.

Last week, London also made progress in the battle to protect music venues when mayor Sadiq Khan stated his ambitions to pursue the Agent Of Change principle in his latest Draft London Plan. If introduced, the law would force developers, rather than venue owners, to pay for soundproofing.